"Haa…"
A sigh resounded through the battlefield.
To those weaker beings, this sigh didn't mean anything. They simply ignored it and continued their battles. But to the experts present, this sigh had a completely different intent.
In that moment, Odin's momentum halted. His hand was already pressed into Damien's neck, drawing a few drops of blood. If he had stopped his movements only a second later, Damien's head would've been cut clean off.
But regardless of how intentional and skillful his actions looked, Odin knew best that this halting wasn't his intent at all. A strange and profound law fluctuation appeared around him, disallowing him from moving further.
No matter how he tried to push his mana, no matter how he tried to counter these laws with his own, all his attempts were futile. Despite the amount of time that had passed since he first met Aishia, Odin hadn't made too much progress in the Demigod realm.
It was too vast and too vague of a power level even to someone who had reached it. The path forward from this point on was incomparably difficult. Characters like Wrath who surpassed others to the point where two normal Demigods had to work together to suppress him were rare enough as it stood.
This was the fate of those Demigods who refused the universe's laws. By right, a Demigod was to break through the universe's boundaries and reach the Heavenly World upon their ascension. This was the path they were meant to follow.
If they truly desired to stay in the lower universe, it was entirely possible. However, this also meant that the path forward was something they'd have to learn for themselves.
The Universe barely had the capacity to contain Demigod-level existences. Naturally, it wouldn't have the proper foundation for them to raise themselves easily.
This was why, when a character appeared whose breath alone could suppress another Demigod, regardless of how weak the opposing Demigod was, it was a shocking display of power.
"I had no desire to participate in these squabbles, otherwise, why would I remain hidden for so long? However, it seems you do not desire for me to remain a mere bystander."
The voice from the void was languid and indifferent, but there was an unstoppable momentum contained within. Simply listening to his words forced those in the surroundings to halt, a powerful sense of oppression washing over them.
But the figure didn't reveal himself yet. Clearly, Odin wasn't enough to make him do so.
Damien looked down at the hand inserted into his neck in shock. Regardless of any appearance he showed to the outside world, the vivid threat of death that assailed his senses wasn't something he could easily cope with.
This was true, inescapable death. It wasn't a situation where he could maneuver his way out with enough wits and craftiness.
But somehow, he'd managed to survive. It was only due to the grace of the mysterious senior that saved him. Damien was well aware of this fact.
He wished he could thank this senior or perhaps understand his identity, but let alone speak, he couldn't even move his body. He was still paralyzed by the World Energy spreading within.
He could only move his eyes to watch the scene playing out before him.
Flash!
It was unknown when it happened, but Odin was no longer in front of Damien. His body had been forcefully transported many feet away, finally giving Damien space to breathe.
"This…this is…!" Odin stammered in shock. It wasn't strange for Damien to miss his movements due to the massive power difference, but even Odin wasn't able to tell when he was moved!
If it wasn't for the fact that Damien's skin was no longer in contact with his body, perhaps he wouldn't have noticed at all!
"T-this senior…" Odin started. Facing such a mysterious foe, he didn't dare show the slightest sign of disrespect. "Forgive this junior for being rash, however, this matter is between this junior and that boy. Senior does not need to worry about this junior interfering in the ongoing battle."
As Odin spoke, Rose, Ruyue, and many others in the vicinity felt a sense of disgust welling in their hearts. Even while boot-licking, Odin was still trying to find an opportunity to kill Damien!
To this move, they could only shake their heads in disappointment. Even an exalted Demigod could be blind at times.
And as they expected, nothing good came from Orin's words.
Pah!
A crisp slap rang out, seemingly trumping the sound of even Avalon's unending barrage. Odin's body was sent flying back like a ragdoll, his face swelling uncontrollably.
Once again, an attack that Odin couldn't even begin to sense was sent towards him. Even facing the humiliation of being slapped in front of so many people, even after losing an immense amount of face, he no longer dared to speak.
In front of someone so powerful, a single misstep would lead to his death. And Odin in particular was a man who desperately clung to life.
"Hmph. For me to interfere at this step, it should be obvious what my reason is. Anyone who dares touch that boy will die."
At this point, even Wrath was paying attention to the sudden change in the situation. The appearance of this new Demigod wasn't something he could've predicted.
From the start, he never intended to let Odin kill Damien. In reality, he understood that the Seed's blooming process couldn't be stopped halfway. Any action against Damien could only be taken after his Baptism was completed.
However, even Wrath wasn't aware of the repercussions of interfering. He only sent Odin out to test the waters. In essence, he was a sacrificial lamb.
Yet, the pitiful Asgardian couldn't even do this job properly! Before Wrath could obtain any useful information, this new Demigod appeared out of nowhere and ruined everything!
This made Wrath warier than anything that took place until this point. When concerning this mysterious expert, even Wrath couldn't judge his depths. This meant that at the very least, he was on par with him.
While most of the involved parties were sunk in shock and confusion, only a single person stood with a silly grin on his face.
This person…was none other than the Drunken Old Immortal!
Hearing the voice that cut through the battlefield, he couldn't help but think that it was extremely familiar. Only after feeling the law fluctuations from the previous slap did he realize the newcomer's identity.
Without a care in the world, he took a swig of wine from his gourd and cackled. "Hahaha, you finally decided to reveal yourself? Old Void, quit acting mysterious and come out here!"
His voice wasn't too loud, but the intent behind his words grabbed everyone's attention. By the looks of it, the Drunken Old Immortal actually knew this newcomer?
"Haa, why do you have to ruin my fun every time?" The mysterious voice responded despondently. "Can't you just allow me to have my moment even once?"
The Drunken Old Immortal grinned like a fox. "Ha! You and your obsession with those mundane things! If you want to look good in front of these kids, just come out and slap this Wrath character silly!"
"Don't joke with me. You just want me to clean up your mess since you're too lazy to do it yourself." The voice's tone was deadpan with a trace of annoyance, clearly fed up with the Drunken Old Immortal's antics.
"Hahaha!" The Drunken Old Immortal laughed raucously, not ashamed at being exposed at all. "Of course! Isn't that what you always do?"
The void trembled. An old man walked out of space next to the Drunken Old Immortal and slapped him on the back of the head, directly taking the gourd out of his hand and drinking the wine within as if nothing else concerned him.
"Tch. Don't say that as though it's my job. If you didn't create trouble everywhere you went, would I have to do so much needless work?"
The old man's appearance wasn't anything shocking, and his method of revealing himself made him seem like nothing more than a passing scholar. But seeing this old man, two people on the battlefield felt a shock so immense that if it were possible, they would've coughed blood and fainted on the spot.
After all, this was an incredibly familiar old man.
With his hair, greyed from age, whipping in the wind, and his sagely beard falling down his front, the man who casually revealed himself as a Demigod…was none other than the Great Elder of the Celestial Star Palace…
Tian Yang!
